Casio fx-CG 50 and HP Prime: The Price is Right Wheel Simulation

Casio fx-CG 50 and HP Prime: The Price is Right Wheel Simulation

Introduction

On the very famous game show, The Price Is Right, currently enjoying its fifth decade in its current run on television (1972-present), the hour long game show is divided into three segments.  The first two segments are played this way:

* An item up for bid is presented to four contestants who directly called from the audience.  Whoever gets closest to the actual retail price without going over wins the prize and plays a pricing game. This cycle occurs three times.

* The three winners play in a Showcase Showdown, where they spin a wheel.  The goal is obtain a score closest to one dollar without going over.  The winner advances to the final Showcase round.

The third segment is the Showcase round played by the two winners of the Showcase Showdown, where prize packages worth thousands of dollars are at stake.

This blog will present a simulation of the Showcase Showdown.  Like the game show, the amounts are shown in cents, where 100 represents one dollar. 

Single Spin Simulation:  Casio fx-CG 50

This program simulates a single spin.  The spin starts on the dollar (100) space.  The space that the pointer is in red with arrows pointed at it.  You can use the program on monochrome screens if you wish, just not type the color commands (Black, Red).

Casio fx-CG50 Program TRIPWHL1

“EWS 2018-06-12”

{100,15,80,35,60,20,40,

75,55,95,50,85,30,65,10,

45,70,25,90,5}→List 1

1 → P

For 1 → K To RanInt#(20, 60)

ClrText

MOD(P, 20) → P

MOD(P+18, 20) → A

MOD(P+19, 20) → B

MOD(P, 20) → C

MOD(P+1, 20) → D

MOD(P+2 ,20) → E

A = 0 ⇒ 20 → A

B = 0 ⇒ 20 → B

C = 0 ⇒ 20 → C

D = 0 ⇒ 20 → D

E = 0 ⇒ 20 → E

Black Locate 5, 2, List 1[E]

Black Locate 5, 3, List 1[D]

Red Locate 5, 4, List 1[C]

Red Locate 10, 4 “≪”

Black Locate 5, 5, List 1[B]

Black Locate 5, 6, List 1[A]

MOD(P+1, 20) → P

.1 + .4 K → T

For .1 → I To T Step .1

Next

Next

Note:  The lines .1+.4K and the second For loop that follows it is to simulate the wheel that slows down as it spins. 

Now, if you want a complete simulation, check out the HP Prime program TPIRWHEEL.

A Showcase Showdown Round Simulation:  HP Prime Program TPIRWHEEL

The program offers two modes:

2 Player Spinoff:  This is a one spin playoff between two players. 

3 Player Normal:  This is a normal game between three players.  Each player may have up to two spins.  If the score exceeds 1 dollar, the player is out, and given a final score of 0.

When entering the names, you do not need to worry about entering the quotes.

Bonus Spins

Should a player get 1 dollar in one spin or their score from two spins add up to 1 dollar, then the player gets a bonus spin and wins $1,000.  The bonus spin always starts from the 5 cent position.  Unlike the game show, all bonus spins are taken immediately.  Landing on the green 5 cents and 15 cents spaces wins $10,000, while landing on the red dollar space on the bonus spins wins $25,000.  The amount on the bonus spin does not affect the player’s final score.

End of the Game

The end of the game will lists the players and their final scores.

HP Prime Program TPIRWHEEL

The program is over 10,000 bytes in memory. 

sbr1(); // subroutine - wheel

EXPORT TPIRWHEEL()

BEGIN

// EWS 2018-06-09

// The Price Is Right Showcase Showdown

// Simulator - Official Version

// bonus spins starts immediately

// 2 player spinoff mode (manual)

// Setup

LOCAL n,k,j,t,str1,str2,str3;

LOCAL str4,m,b;

CHOOSE(n,"Number of Players",

{"2 Player Spinoff",

"3 Player Normal"});

n:=n+1;

LOCAL players:={};

LOCAL scores:=MAKELIST(0,X,1,n);

LOCAL bonuses:=MAKELIST(0,X,1,n);

// Names

FOR k FROM 1 TO n DO

str1:="Player "+STRING(k);

INPUT({{str2,[[2]]}},str1,"Name: ");

players:=CONCAT(players,{str2});

END;

// Spin the wheel

RECT(RGB(255,255,0));

IF n==3 THEN

TEXTOUT_P("The goal is to get close to",

10,10,7);

TEXTOUT_P("$1.00 without going over.",

10,40,7);

TEXTOUT_P("You can have up to two spins.",

10,70,7);

TEXTOUT_P("Good luck!",10,100,7);

ELSE

TEXTOUT_P("This is a spinoff.",10,10,7);

TEXTOUT_P("Highest number wins.",10,40,7);

END;

TEXTOUT_P("Press any key to

continue.",10,130,7);

WAIT(0);

// spinning the wheel

LOCAL t,w,w1,w2,ch; // pointer

t:=1;

FOR k FROM 1 TO n DO

MSGBOX(players(k)+"'s 1st spin");

m:=MAX(scores);

// Inital spin

w:=sbr1(t);

t:=w(1);

scores(k):=w(2);

// test for $1 and bonus spin

IF scores(k)==100 THEN

RECT();

TEXTOUT_P(players(k)+" has $1.00!",

10,10,7);

TEXTOUT_P("$1,000 bonus!",10,40,7,

RGB(0,128,0));

bonuses(k):=1000;

WAIT(0);

// bonus spin

MSGBOX("Bonus Spin");

w:=sbr1(1);

t:=w(1); b:=0;

IF w(2)==5 OR w(2)==15 THEN b:=10000 END;

IF w(2)==100 THEN b:=25000 END;

IF b>0 THEN

str4:=players(k)+" has won $"+

STRING(b)+"!";

bonuses(k):=bonuses(k)+b;

ELSE

str4:="No bonus money.";

END;

TEXTOUT_P(str4,10,180,7);

WAIT(0);

CONTINUE; END;

IF n==3 THEN

// second spin?

str4:=players(k)+" has "+

scores(k)+" cents.";

TEXTOUT_P(str4,10,180,7);

WAIT(0);

CHOOSE(ch,

"Score to beat: "+STRING(m)+

" Spin Again?",{"SPIN","STAY"});

IF ch==1 THEN

MSGBOX(players(k)+"'s 2nd spin");

w:=sbr1(t);

t:=w(1);

scores(k):=w(2)+scores(k);

// did the player go over?

IF scores(k)>100 THEN

str4:=players(k)+" has gone over.";

TEXTOUT_P(str4,10,200,7,RGB(255,0,0));

WAIT(0);

scores(k):=0;

END;

// test for $1.00 and bonus spin

IF scores(k)==100 THEN

RECT();

TEXTOUT_P(players(k)+" has $1.00!",

10,10,7);

TEXTOUT_P("$1,000 bonus!",10,40,7,

RGB(0,128,0));

bonuses(k):=1000;

// bonus spin

MSGBOX("Bonus Spin");

w:=sbr1(1);

t:=w(1); b:=0;

IF w(2)==5 OR w(2)==15 THEN b:=10000 END;

IF w(2)==100 THEN b:=25000 END;

IF b>0 THEN

str4:=players(k)+" has won $"+

STRING(b)+"!";

bonuses(k):=bonuses(k)+b;

ELSE

str4:="No bonus money.";

END;

TEXTOUT_P(str4,10,180,7);

WAIT(0);

CONTINUE;

END;

END;

END;

// total score

str4:=players(k)+" has "+

scores(k)+" cents.";

TEXTOUT_P(str4,10,180,7);

WAIT(0);

END;

// end of the game

RECT();

TEXTOUT_P("Final Scores",10,10,7);

FOR k FROM 1 TO n DO

TEXTOUT_P(players(k)+":",10,

10+25*k,7);

TEXTOUT_P(STRING(scores(k)/100,2,2),170,

10+25*k,7);

IF bonuses(k)>0 THEN

TEXTOUT_P("$"+STRING(bonuses(k),2,0),

225,10+25*k,7,RGB(0,128,0)); END;

END;

WAIT(0);

END;

// subroutine spin the wheel

sbr1(x)

BEGIN

LOCAL wheel;

// colors

LOCAL b:=RGB(255,240,240); // snow white

LOCAL r:=RGB(255,0,0); // red

LOCAL dg:=RGB(0,255,0); // lime green

LOCAL tn:=RGB(255,208,0); // tangerine

// the wheel {{amount, color}}

wheel:=

{{100,r},{15,dg},{80,b},

{35,b},{60,b},{20,b},{40,b},

{75,b},{55,b},{95,b},{50,b},

{85,b},{30,b},{65,b},{10,b},

{45,b},{70,b},{25,b},{90,b},

{5,dg}};

// pointer

LOCAL pt,k,pm2,pm1,pc,pp1,pp2;

pt:=x;

// wheel display

FOR k FROM 1 TO RANDINT(20,60) DO

RECT();

pt:=pt MOD 20;

// display

pm2:=(pt+18) MOD 20;

pm1:=(pt+19) MOD 20;

pc:=pt MOD 20;

pp1:=(pt+1) MOD 20;

pp2:=(pt+2) MOD 20;

// box the numbers

RECT_P(74,44,164,144,0);

// borders

LINE_P(74,44,164,44,tn);

LINE_P(74,64,164,64,tn);

LINE_P(74,84,164,84,tn);

LINE_P(74,104,164,104,tn);

LINE_P(74,124,164,124,tn);

LINE_P(74,144,164,144,tn);

LINE_P(74,44,74,144,tn);

LINE_P(164,44,164,144,tn);

// side decoration - left with $

FILLPOLY_P([(28,44),(43,24),(58,24),

(73,44),(73,144),(28,144)],

RGB(255,128,0));

TEXTOUT_P("$",44,74,7,RGB(224,224,224));

// side decoration - right

FILLPOLY_P([(165,44),(180,24),(195,24),

(210,44),(210,144),(165,144)],

RGB(255,128,0));

// draw the pointer

TEXTOUT_P("<<",165,80,7,RGB(255,0,0));

// draw the numbers

TEXTOUT_P(wheel(pp2,1),95,40,7,

wheel(pp2,2));

TEXTOUT_P(wheel(pp1,1),95,60,7,

wheel(pp1,2));

TEXTOUT_P(wheel(pc,1),95,80,7,

wheel(pc,2));

TEXTOUT_P(wheel(pm1,1),95,100,7,

wheel(pm1,2));

TEXTOUT_P(wheel(pm2,1),95,120,7,

wheel(pm2,2));

// slow down the wheel

WAIT(0.08+0.01*k);

// next pointer

pt:=pt+1 MOD 20;

END;

// store results

LOCAL x1:=(pt-1) MOD 20;

IF x1==0 THEN x1:=20; END;

LOCAL x2:=wheel(x1,1);

RETURN {x1,x2};

END;

Source:

“Showcase Showdown” The Price Is Right Wiki.  Retrieved June 8, 2018.  http://priceisright.wikia.com/wiki/Showcase_Showdown

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.  

HP Prime: The Money Machine Game

HP Prime: The Money Machine Game

The month of games continue…

This is a simple game where the machine randomizes between $250 to $50,000.  Press [ Enter ] whenever you feel lucky.  Good luck!

HP Prime Program GAME_MONEY

EXPORT GAME_MONEY()

BEGIN

// Money Machine random game

// 2018-03-26 EWS

// Localize variables

LOCAL K,c,d,s,lst,t1,t2,t3;

// Dark green screen (fir green)

RECT(#003000h);

// Intro screen

K:=GETKEY;

WHILE K≠30 DO

TEXTOUT_P("Are you ready to make money?",

0,0,4,#FFFF00h);

TEXTOUT_P("Then step right up, to the",

0,20,4,#FFFF00h);

TEXTOUT_P("Money Machine! Press ENTER",

0,40,4,#FFFF00h);

TEXTOUT_P("when you feel lucky! GOOD LUCK!",

0,60,4,#FFFF00h);

TEXTOUT_P("Press ENTER to continue.",

0,120,4,#00FFFFh);

K:=GETKEY;

END;

// The game

lst:={250,250,250,500,500,500,

1000,1000,1000,2000,2000,2000,2500,

2500,5000,5000,10000,15000,25000};

S:=SIZE(lst);

K:=GETKEY;

WHILE K≠30 DO

RECT(0);

// decorate

t1:=RANDINT(0,310);

t2:=RANDINT(0,310);

t3:=RANDINT(0,310);

// star is character 9733

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t1,0,4,#FFFFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t2,0,4,#FFFFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t3,0,4,#FFFFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t1,200,4,#FFFFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t2,200,4,#FFFFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P(CHAR(9733),t3,200,4,#FFFFFFh);

// generate dollar amount

c:=RANDINT(1,S);

d:=lst[c];

// 7 is the largest font

TEXTOUT_P("$"+STRING(d),100,60,7,#00FF00h);

// wait one quarter second

WAIT(1/4);

K:=GETKEY;

END;

// Results screen

RECT(#003000h);

TEXTOUT_P("$"+STRING(d),100,60,6,#00FFFFh);

TEXTOUT_P("You won $"+STRING(d)+"!",

0,180,4,#FFFFFFh);

WAIT(0);

END;

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.  Please contact the author if you have questions.

HP 32SII and HP Prime: Throwing Dice

HP 32SII and HP Prime: Throwing Dice

Note: Symbols that are produced by Unicode should, but may not show up on all browsers. Please make sure your browsers are updated to the latest version.  

⚀ ⚁ ⚂ ⚃ ⚄ ⚅

Let Em’ Roll

One way to simulate a pair of dice being thrown is to generate two random integers between 1 through 6.  The integers are either shown as a pair or vector of integers.  For calculators that do not have a list capacity or want a more compact representation, the program for the HP 32S II (which can easily apply almost to any other programming calculator), in the format A.0B, where A is one die and B is the other.   For example, 3.06 represents a 3 and a 6 being thrown.

The formula would be:   RandInt(1,6) + RandInt(1,6)/100

On certain Sharp calculators, such as the Sharp EL-W516T, the R.DICE function generates a single digit between 1 and 6.

HP 32 SII Program: Dice Generator

D01 LBL D

D02 RANDOM

D03 6

D04 *

D05 1

D06 +

D07 IP

D08 1

D09 %

D10 RANDOM

D11 6

D12 *

D13 1

D14 +

D15 IP

D16 +

D17 RTN

HP Prime:  Graphical Representation of Dice

We can also use the Unicode representation of dice.

Unicode Character	Decimal	Hexadecimal
⚀	9856	2680
⚁	9857	2681
⚂	9858	2682
⚃	9859	2683
⚄	9860	2684
⚅	9861	2685

Unicode characters need to be in strings.  The HP Prime program RDICE returns a list, the roll in compact format, along with the Unicode representation.  This is only one of many ways to do it.

An example output of RDICE is {4.02, “⚃”, “⚁”}

HP Prime Program: RDICE

EXPORT RDICE()

BEGIN

// rolling dice A.0B

LOCAL A, B, C, D;

A≔RANDINT(1,6); C≔9855+A;

B≔RANDINT(1,6); D≔9855+B;

RETURN {A+B/100, CHAR(C), CHAR(D)};

END;

Have fun and roll those dice,

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.  Please contact the author if you have questions.

Sharp EL-5500 III: Slots: Triples and Cherries Pay

Sharp EL-5500 III:  Slots:  Triples and Cherries Pay

BAR | BAR | BAR

   7    |   7    |   7

   🍒  |   🍒   |  🍒

Note: Symbols that are produced by Unicode should, but may not show up on all browsers. Please make sure your browsers are updated to the latest version.  

Take a Spin

This program is a three reel slot simulator, each with ten symbols:

0:  BAR

1:  Cherry (🍒)

2:  Orange

3:  Plum

4:  Bell (🔔)

5:  Lemon (🍋)

6:  Watermelon (🍉)

7:  Seven

8:  Apple (🍎)

9:  Shamrock (☘)

To see the version for the HP 32SII, please click here:  https://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2018/06/hp-32s-ii-two-versions-of-slots.html

🍒 | 🍒 | 🍒

Each spin has an ante of 25¢.  The results appear in the form 0.###  (ignore the left most 0.)  See the Take a Spin section above for the symbols used in the game.

The payouts are these:

A cherry in any one slot (0.1xy, 0.x1y, or 0.xy1):  $1.00

Any two cherries (0.11x, 0.1x1, 0.x11):  $10.00

Three BARS (0.000):  $35.00  ($15 + $20)

Three Sevens (0.777):  $70.00  ($50 + $20)

Any other triple (0.xxx, x≠0 and x≠7):  $20.00

Note: You can use any line numbering system, I used the line numbers 1400-1499 for this program. The first “D” on line 1400 is optional, but is there to make the program a defined program for the EL-5500 III, running it by pressing [DEF] [ D ].  If you are using another calculator, this may not be an option, so ignore the “D” in that case.

Sharp EL-5500 III Program Slots: Triples and Cherries Pay

1400: “D”: PAUSE “Slots”   

1402: CLEAR

1404: INPUT “Bankroll: $”; J

1406: P = 0

1408: J = J - .25

1410: N = .1*(RND 10-1)+.01*(RND 10-1)+.001*(RND 10 – 1)

1412: PRINT USING “########”; 1000*N

1414: S = N/.111

1416: IF (S-INT(S)) = 0 THEN 1450

1418: X = N: GOSUB 1430

1420: X = S: GOSUB 1430

1422: X = S: GOSUB 1430

1424: J = J + INT(TEN (P – 1))  // TEN: 10^x

1426: GOTO 1470

1430: I = INT(X*10)

1432: S = 10*X – I

1434: IF I = 1 THEN LET P = P + 1

1436: RETURN

1450: IF S = 0 THEN LET J = J + 35

1452: IF S = 7 THEN LET J = J + 50

1454: IF S<>0 AND S<>7 THEN LET J = J + 20

1456: GOTO 1470

1470: PRINT “Bank $”; USING “##########.##”; J

1472: INPUT “1 = Again ? :”, C

1474: IF C = 1 THEN 1406

1476: END

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.  Please contact the author if you have questions.

HP 32S II: Two Versions of Slots

HP 32S II: Two Versions of Slots

BAR | BAR | BAR

   7    |   7    |   7

   🍒  |   🍒   |  🍒

Note: Symbols that are produced by Unicode should, but may not show up on all browsers. Please make sure your browsers are updated to the latest version.  

Take a Spin

The two programs are three reel slot simulators, each with ten symbols:

0:  BAR

1:  Cherry (🍒)

2:  Orange

3:  Plum

4:  Bell (🔔)

5:  Lemon (🍋)

6:  Watermelon (🍉)

7:  Seven

8:  Apple (🍎)

9:  Shamrock (☘)

Slots Version 1:  Classic Adapted Version

This version is adapted from the HP-19C/HP-29C Games Solutions: Games book, which in turn, the original program was adapted from HP-65 user program by Craig A. Pearce.

Each spin has an ante of 10¢.  The results appear in the form 0.###  (ignore the left most 0.)

The payouts are these:

Cherry on the first slot, 0.1xy ( 🍒 | any | any ):  20¢

Cherry on the first two slots 0.11x ( 🍒 | 🍒 | any ):  30¢

Three of a kind other than cherries, 0.xxx where x≥2:  $1.00

Non-cherry symbol on the first two slots, BAR on the third, 0.xx0 where x≥2:  $1.00

Three BARS, 0.000:  $10.00

To operate:

1.  Initialize:  XEQ S

2.  Spin:  XEQ J

3.  Check your winnings or losses:  XEQ K

HP 32S II Program Classic Slots

(115.5 bytes)

// initialize (4.5 bytes)

S01 LBL S

S02 CLVARS

S03 STOP (R/S)

// spin (40.5 bytes)

J01 LBL J

J02 FIX 3

J03 RANDOM

J04 STO N

J05 XEQ T

J06 STO K

J07 –

J08 XEQ T

J09 STO L

J10 –

J11 XEQ T

J12 STO M

J13 1

J14 RCL K   // check for cherries

J15 x=y?

J16 GTO O

J17 RCL L

J18 x≠y?

J19 GTO P

J20 RCL M

J21 x≠y?

J22 GTO Q

J23 1

J24 XEQ U

J25 1

J26 STO U

J27 R↓

// three of kind check (7.5 bytes)

Q01 LBL Q

Q02 x≠0?

Q03 GTO P

Q04 9

Q05 DSE U

// pay the ante of 10 cents (12.5 bytes)

P01 LBL P

P02 RCL N

P03 -0.1

// accounting of the pot (6.0 bytes)

U01 LBL U

U02 STO+ J

U03 R↓

U04 RTN

// cherry routine (29.5 bytes)

O01 LBL O

O02 0.2

O03 XEQ U

O04 RCL L

O05 x≠y?

O06 GTO P

O07 0.3

O08 XEQ U

O09 GTO P

// peel digits from the spin (9.0 bytes)

T01 LBL T

T02 10

T03 *

T04 ENTER

T05 IP

T06 RTN

// recall pot (6.0 bytes)

K01 LBL K

K02 RCL J

K03 FIX 2

K04 STOP (R/S)

Source: HP-19C/29-C Solutions: Games. Hewlett Packard.  1977

Slots Version 2:  Cherries and Triples Pay 

🍒 | 🍒 | 🍒

Each spin has an ante of 25¢.  The results appear in the form 0.###  (ignore the left most 0.)  See the Take a Spin section above for the symbols used in the game.

The payouts are these:

A cherry in any one slot (0.1xy, 0.x1y, or 0.xy1):  $1.00

Any two cherries (0.11x, 0.1x1, 0.x11):  $10.00

Three BARS (0.000):  $35.00  ($15 + $20)

Three Sevens (0.777):  $70.00  ($50 + $20)

Any other triple (0.xxx, x≠0 and x≠7):  $20.00

To operate:

1.  Initialize and store your bank roll:  XEQ S

2.  Spin:  XEQ J.  The results of the slot and the resulting bank roll will automatically be displayed.

HP 32S II Program Cherries and Triples Pay

(124.0 bytes)

// initialization (6.0 bytes)

S01 LBL S

S02 CLRVARS

S03 STO J

S04 STOP (R/S)

// spin (62.5 bytes)

J01 LBL J

J02 0

J03 STO P // store in P

J04 0.25  // ante

J05 STO- J

J06 FIX 3

J07 RANDOM

J08 RND  // round to display settings

J09 PSE

J10 PSE

J11 PSE

J12 STO N

J13 0.111  // check for triple

J14 ÷

J15 STO S

J16 FP

J17 x=0?

J18 GTO T

J19 RCL N  // count for cherries

J20 XEQ P

J21 RCL S

J22 XEQ P

J23 RCL S

J24 XEQ P

J25 RCL P

J26 1

J27 –

J28 10^x 

J29 IP

J30 STO+ J

J31 GTO U

// count cherries (21.0 bytes)

P01 LBL P

P02 10

P03 *

P04 ENTER

P05 IP

P06 –

P07 STO O

P08 LASTx

P09 1

P10 x≠y?

P11 RTN

P12 1

P13 STO+ P

P14 RTN

// check the triple (16.5 bytes)

T01 LBL T

T02 RCL S

T03 x=0? // 3 bars

T04 XEQ K

T05 RCL S

T06 7

T07 x=y? // 3 sevens

T08 XEQ L

T09 20

T10 STO+ J

T11 GTO U

// add bonus for 3 bars (6.0 bytes)

K01 LBL K

K02 15

K03 STO+ J

K04 RTN

// add bonus for 3 sevens (6.0 bytes)

L01 LBL L

L02 50

L03 STO+ J

L04 RTN

/// show balance (6.0 bytes)

U01 LBL U

U02 RCL J

U03 FIX 2

U04 STOP (R/S)

Good luck!

Eddie

All original content copyright, © 2011-2018.  Edward Shore.   Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited.  This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.  Please contact the author if you have questions.